Giverny / Versaille suggestions needed
 

We are looking for economical ways of getting to Versaille and Giverny. Probably tween April 8 and April 11, 2005. We hoteled at the Holiday Inn Express Porte D'Italie
What will be the flower blooming situation?
What about the Eure train trip?
What other things to do in Giverny? :)
Donzo

Versailles is accessible via RATP services.

Métro Ligne 7 to Place d'Italie
Métro Ligne 5 to Gare d'Austerlitz
RER C to Versailles-Rive Gauche

Giverny is 4 miles from the train station at Vernon.

Métro Ligne 7 to Châtelet
Métro Ligne 14 to Gare St-Lazare
SNCF train to Vernon

Spring flowers will be in full bloom. Things to do:

<b>http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/france/giverny.htm</b>

Giverny will be deligyhtful. When you get off the train, there is local bus service to Monet's house-inquire at train station. The walk is long and dusty and just goes past farm fields. After Monet's house, there is another museum a short walk down the road which exposes you to the otheer American painters who shared the area with Monet. That's about it for the sights. When you return to Paris be sure to visit the Museum Monpartan (spelling and my memory fail me) which shows a late series of Monet Lilies (as his eyesight failed) in their original setting. It's in the 17th near the Bois du Boulogne but easily reachable by metro and a short walk past excellent cafes.

Of course that should be the Marmottan Museum. As Monet's eyesight changed his palette changed to reflect what he saw. It didn't matter to his collectors. The museum has a letter from Monet to Monsieur Marmottan complaining that he was transporting these large canvases before the paint had time to set properly. Enjoy.

Be sure you note the train return times in Vernon so you don't get stuck out there. There aren't as many returns to Paris as you'd think in the afternoon.

The Marmottan does have some nice paintings, but it isn't one of my favorite museums, and I wouldn't make it a must-see if you are pressed for time. Others do like it a lot more than I do, I just don't think it's the best of Monet's works. In any case, it's not in the 17th, but in the 16th arrondisement near Passy, I think paysant made a slip on that.

Another Giverny tip -- I would just take a taxi instead of that bus if it's going to be a long wait. I waited too long for that bus as the schedule wasn't coordinated very well with the train arrivals and it wasn't worth it as the taxi fare is so low because it's a short distance (and it was so crowded it was suffocating with people packed in like sardines). Lots of taxis are waiting there to take people to Giverny.

There's nothing else to do in Giverny, although there is a small museum in Vernon (where the train station is) -- a museum of impressionist works of American painters, I believe (have not visited it).

Excellent point about the return train times. It even might be a good idea to ask at the station if the published schedule is in effect on the day of your trip.

Ahh Christina you are a veritable fount of useful info

Many thanx :)

Donzo

I completely agree about taking the taxi from Vernon to Giverny. And, ask the taxi driver for a business card so that when you are ready to leave the Monet site you can call for a taxi to take you back to Vernon.

My tip is to plan on arriving at the Monet site just at opening time, and to go to the gardens first and see the house afterwards. It is more pleasant to see the gardens when crowds are minimal, and then late if the house is crowded, so be it.

Admission to the Marmottan is only 6.50 euros. I don't care much for the abstract lillies Monet did late in his life but the chance to see &quot;Impression Sunrise&quot; and &quot;Train In The Snow&quot; (or &quot;Locomotive&quot;) is well worth the price of admission for me.

Larry J

I was in Giverny last year at that time, and it was lovely, quite a bit in bloom. A word of caution - the bus that takes you from Vernon station in to Giv. is not right at the train station, where the bus shelter/bench is! It is up about 1-2 blocks in front of a parking lot. For Monet's house and gardens, plan to arrive before 1:30, to avoid long lines. You can also go to ...I think it's called Museum of American Painters, which you can cover in about 2 hours, and unlike Monet's house, you can buy a ticket in advance. The museum has an indoor cafe &amp; a patio outside and gardens. We took a few long walks, went to some galleries. We stayed overnight. Dinner is served early and nights are quiet. Enjoy!

In Giverny, you can also visit the church where Monet and his family worshipped. His grave is in the churchyard.

In Vernon, you can also visit Chateau Bizy. It is definitely worth a visit. It is not within walking distance of the Vernon train station so you would probably need a taxi.

The Giverny website has lots of valuable information - including detailed train and transpotation schedules. It is http:giverny.org (I think; if not I'll update).

Correction: the website is http://giverny.org/index.htm

We visited the Marmottan after seeing Giverny, and it was time well spent. I am told that the water lillies normally displayed in L'Orangerie are at the Marmottan pending completion of the restoration of L'Orangerie, but I am not enough of an expert to know if that is so. We also liked a rather substantial collection of Morisots.

I would put the Marmottan fairly high on my list of museums to visit while in Paris.